Switzerland Flashcards
What are the Four national languages of Switzerland?
French, German, Italian, and Romansch
How many cantons make up Switzerland?
26 nearly autonomous cantons
In western Switzerland, what four French-speaking cantons produce wine?
Valais, Vaud, Geneva, and Neuchâtel
How many German-speaking cantons practice viticulture in eastern Switzerland?
17
What The Italian-speaking canton in the south borders Italy’s Lombardy region?
Ticino
What does Ticino almost exclusively focus on?
the Merlot grape
Aside from Chasselas, what other grapes are also widespread?
Müller-Thurgau and Sylvaner
What is Sylvaner known locally as?
Johannisberg
Among the red varieties, what are commonly encountered?
Pinot Noir and Gamay
Name some native white varieties
Amigne of Vétroz and Petite Arvine
Where is Petite Arvine more often encountered?
Italy’s Valle d’Aosta
What is the most important canton in Switzerland for wine production and is responsible for over 40% of the nation’s annual output?
Valais
The Valais’s vineyard area is clustered along the banks of what river?
the Rhône River, establishing Valais as the river’s northernmost appellation
What are the Valais’s most widely produced wines?
Fendant (Chasselas) and Dôle
What is Dôle?
a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay
What is one of Switzerland’s oldest indigenous grapes, and produces the rare Valais specialty Vin des Glacier?
Rèze
What is Vin des Glacier?
a maderized wine stored in high altitude soleras, only a few parcels remain planted today
What lies on the north shores of Lake Geneva and borders France’s Jura region?
The Vaud
What is the Vaud dominated by?
the cultivation of Chasselas, locally known as Dorin
In 2010, the Vaud appellation system was simplified, bracketing the former 26 village AOCs into what 6 regional AOCs?
- Chablais
- La Côte
- Lavaux
- Vully
- Bonvillars
- Côtes de l’Orbe
What may be mentioned on the bottle in the Vaud?
Approved villages
What 2 Grand Crus retain their individual status in the Vaud?
Dézaley and Calamin
What now exists in the Vaud?
a premier cru designation
In the Vaud, what is Salvagnin?
a blend of Gamay, Pinot Noir, and the crossings Gamaret and Garanoir
What contains the country’s densest plantings?
Geneva, a small canton on the southwestern shore of Lake Geneva
What is Savagnin Blanc known as in the Valais?
Heida
What is Marsanne known as in the Valais?
Ermitage
Name some native red grapes of the Valais
Humagne Rouge, Cornalin, Diolinoir, Gamaret, Garanoir, Ancellotta, Carminoir, Galotta, Durize, Eyholzer Roter
What is the cepage for Dole?
Min. 85% combined Pinot Noir and Gamay, plus Garanoir, Gamaret, Ancellotta, Diolinoir, Carminoir, Merlot, Syrah
What is the Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?
A label seal of quality for traditional sweet wines, created in 1996 in the Valais
What are the allowed varieties of the Charte Grain Noble ConfidenCiel?
Ermitage, Petite Arvine, Amigne, Johannisberg, Malvoisie, Paien (Heida, Savagnin)
Name Grand Crus of the Valais AOC
Conthey, Fully, Saint-Léonard, Salquenen, Vétroz
What are the subregions of Ticino?
- Sopraceneri - (Above) North of Monte Ceneri
- Sottoceneri (Below) South of Monte Cenari
What are the subdivisions of Neuchâtel?
La Béroche
The Coast
Entre-deux-Lacs
What is the Neuchâtel Specialty of Oeil-de-Perdrix?
Rosé of Pinot Noir. (Originated here but the Canton failed to protect the name.)
What is the Neuchâtel Specialty of Non Filtré?
Released on the third Wednesday in January at an official tasting in the city’s town hall. Bottled without filtering the yeast.
What is the Neuchâtel Specialty of Perdrix Blanc?
Still Blanc de Pinot Noir
What are the subregions of Geneva?
Mandement
Entre Arve et Rhone
Entre Arve et Lac
